Bellingham, you beauty! Jude carries England in Euros opener

No more excuses, Kylian! Mbappe must shine at the Euros

Weghorst to the rescue! Super-sub saves Dutch & dismal Depay

How Man Utd punchline Rangnick has transformed Austria

Yamal can define a generation - the Euros will show why

Lineker and Shearer send message to 'seriously ill' Hansen

Bentancur apologises to Son after saying South Koreans 'look the same'

Brazil slammed as 'one of the worst teams' by Ronaldinho

‘Not even Messi was at this level’ – Yamal ‘can’t be compared’

Transfers LIVE: Kvaratskhelia demands Napoli exit

Revealed: Ashworth's deleted email to hide talks with Man Utd

‘Would never’ - Ronaldinho clears up Brazil criticism confusion

PSG sign goalkeeper Safonov on five-year deal

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Argentine sat out trip to Canada</li><li>Locals left disappointed</li><li>Workload being managed carefully</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

‘Lionel Missing’! Frustrated fans alter Messi shirts after seeing Inter Miami superstar ruled out of MLS clash with Vancouver Whitecaps that shifted 50,000 tickets

Major League Soccer

Inter Miami CF

Columbus Crew

Portland Timbers

Vancouver Whitecaps

<p>The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-frustration-50000-fans-canada-vancouver-whitecaps-inter-miami-without-captain-luis-suarez-sergio-busquets/bltf6417bbb0f64eba4" target="_blank">Whitecaps shifted over 50,000 tickets</a> for an eagerly-anticipated encounter that was expected to see eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi take to the field. He was, however, to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/inter-miami-player-ratings-vancouver-whitecaps-lionel-messi-robert-taylor/blt0093fddd8db75984" target="_blank">play no part in a 2-1 win for the Herons</a>.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/AXpAsstmM3">pic.twitter.com/AXpAsstmM3</a></p>— Mike Halford (@MikeHalford604) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeHalford604/status/1794551374941999238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>That is because he was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-heartwarming-moment-son-thiago-speech-crowd-inter-miami-star-misses-vancouver-whitecaps/blt19959af293f9dc72" target="_blank">left back in Florida, alongside fellow former Barcelona stars Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets</a>. Inter Miami are having to manage his workload carefully, as the Argentine prepares to turn 37, but his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/like-seeing-michael-jordan-greatest-why-tickets-lionel-messi-show-inter-miami-remain-expensive/blt630bce8421fa19c0" target="_blank">absence from any fixture hits supporters and promoters hard</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Vancouver natives were clearly disappointed at missing out on the chance to watch the all-time great in action, with a number of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-no10-shirt-inter-miami-named-vogue-top-fashion-items-defined-2023/blta10dc849243b324b" target="_blank">Inter Miami jerseys being tweaked</a> to hammer home the fact that Messi was “missing”.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Where is Messi? Missing says the two boys <a href="https://t.co/2K14aZVHhC">pic.twitter.com/2K14aZVHhC</a></p>— HillsideSteak (@HillsideSt81233) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillsideSt81233/status/1794620246072115698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>It is not the first time that Messi’s absence has caused controversy – as a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/slap-in-face-angry-lionel-messi-fans-hong-kong-offered-50-refund-inter-miami-superstar-no-show-controversial-friendly/blt261a7cbf97032995" target="_blank">political storm was sparked in Hong Kong during pre-season</a> – and will not be the last, as he remains tied to a contract through 2025. He is, however, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-another-injury-lionel-messi-concern-inter-miami-argentina-mls-copa-america/blt9e99ecc80332b7a3" target="_blank">expected to be back in action on Wednesday</a> when Inter Miami play host to Atlanta United.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

‘Lionel Missing’! Frustrated fans alter Messi shirts after seeing Inter Miami superstar ruled out of MLS clash with Vancouver Whitecaps that shifted 50,000 tickets | Goal.com

Frustrated fans in Canada have taken to altering Messi shirts to “Lionel Missing” after seeing the Inter Miami superstar sit out a trip to Vancouver.